W01 Writing Lesson: Overview

Introduction

In the introductory materials this week, you learned about the core objectives of the PathwayConnect Program at-large as well as within this specific course. You also became familiar with some of the topics you will be studying within the Life Skill Lesson lane of this course as well as some of the primary assignments you will be asked to complete. You also likely learned that this curriculum follows a more integrated approach in which students engage in not only Life Skill Lessons each week, but also Writing and Math Lessons.

Your Writing Lesson this week will help you become familiar with some of the writing topics you will cover this semester. You will also learn how those topics will directly relate to the Life Skill Lessons and other assignments you will also be completing each week.

Lesson

To review, the primary objective of this course is to help you discern your pathway in life and strengthen your ability to pursue it. One of the primary ways you can do this is to learn how to effectively research, ponder, record, and communicate across multiple contexts, both academically and reflectively.

To help you achieve this outcome, you will not only complete a weekly Life Skill Lesson and accompanying set of exercises, but also a weekly Writing Lesson. For a brief overview of the topics you will be covering each week and which Life Skill Lesson they will accompany and support, please review the graphic below:

The writing content will serve as a support for the Life Skill Lesson content by engaging topics learned in those lessons. For example, during the second week when you are learning about the importance of education, your accompanying Writing Lesson, Writing Practice, and Application Activity: Writing Assignment will focus on crafting a clear, concise, and well-supported paragraph detailing your reasons for joining the Pathway Program. Likewise, when you submit your next major Writing Assignment (a Reflective Essay in Week 5), the topic will be based on principles directly drawn from the Life Skill content.

Please take a moment to review the four major Application Activity: Writing Assignments you will be asked to complete throughout the semester:

As the above chart indicates, you will be asked to engage in three styles of essay-writing. You will first learn how to piece together a well-constructed, well-supported paragraph. Second, you will learn how to piece different types of paragraphs together to form a cohesive (connected) essay. Once you have mastered the basic essay, you will then learn how to adapt components (parts) of that basic essay format to suit the needs and purpose of other essay genres you will write in.

For some of you, these lessons might feel like a review. For others, it might feel like something very new . Whatever your current level, know that the lessons will afford all an opportunity to learn and expand new and existing skills.